Dinner benefits Lou Gehrig's disease

Jason Hensley hosted a dinner and benefit auction on Aug. 4 at New Site Baptist Church, in Monett, in honor of his dad, Lynn Hensley, who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease in September 2010.

The funds raised at the auction were in support of the 2012 Walk to Defeat ALS that will be held in Springfield at Jordan Valley Park on Sept. 29.

Approximately 160 people attended the event that included dinner, door prizes, a bow shooting contest and a silent auction. Many local businesses and individuals donated items for the auction.

The event raised $3,500, which will go toward supporting the research and efforts to find a cure for the disease.

Lou Gehrig's disease is a motor neuron disease that attacks both the upper and lower motor neurons and causes degeneration throughout the brain and spinal cord. A common first symptom is weakness in a hand, foot, arm or leg or sometimes difficulty in speech and swallowing.

Baseball great Lou Gehrig died from this disease in 1941. After 50 years of research and testing, researchers are still unable to find what causes the disease or a cure.

The normal lifespan after diagnosis is two to five years. For more information, visit www.alsa-midwest.org.

The walk team that is participating at Jordan Valley Park is Lynns Cruzin' Crew. Lynn Hensley will also be walking in the event.